For some reason I've been leaving the park the last few seasons feeling like my family and I have been more of a burden to the operation than the reason it exists in the first place. Depressing.

I feel the same exact way. I get that the service industry is tough, but part of the job is putting on a happy face. Certainly no excuse for making the customer feel unappreciated.

I've criticized Brooks in the past, but I'm heartened to see from his note to Harry Potter (An aside: The idea of Brooks writing a note to the actual Harry Potter is making me laugh.) that he's frustrated about what's going on. Ultimately, the buck stops with him, but the first step is acknowledging failure, and I think he's there, to some degree anyway.